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Do prescription medications need to be properly secured? Absolutely! Parents need to be aware of a growing trend amongst teenagers, the abuse of prescription medications and the effects of mixing them with alcohol.
Contrary to popular belief, marijuana and ecstasy are not the most accessible drugs. The easiest drugs for teenagers to obtain are found in their parent’s medicine cabinet. Many teens will ingest whatever is readily available, the medications range anywhere from over the counter cough syrup to Percocet, a narcotic pain medication. Furthermore, they will mix these medications with alcohol, which may compound the problem. To truly understand the significance of this trend, parents should educate themselves about the effects of these medications when not properly used.
Two seemingly benign medications, when mixed, can prove deadly. According to the Web site www.abovetheinfluence.com, physical side effects of abusing any prescription stimulants include increased heart and respiratory rates, elevated blood pressure, tremors, chest pain with palpitations, vomiting; and psychological side effects include aggression, panic and paranoia.
Unintentional poisoning deaths from the abuse of prescription painkillers, such as Percocet, and Morphine grew 55 percent from 1999 to 2004. Here is one last staggering figure for parents: According to the Web site www.theantidrug.com, every day 2,500 teens abuse a pain reliever for the very first time. More teens abuse prescription drugs than any illicit drug, with the exception of marijuana. In 2006, more than 2.1 million teens, ages 12 to 17, reported abusing prescription drugs.
Now, what happens when you mix alcohol, such as beer, with a prescription narcotic such as Percocet? According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the side effects can vary from person to person but some common side effects are drowsiness, dizziness, increased risk for overdose, slowed or difficulty breathing, impaired motor control, unusual behavior and memory problems.
To make matters worse, women, in general, have a higher risk for problems than men. When a woman drinks, the alcohol in her bloodstream typically reaches a higher level than a man’s even if both are drinking the same amount. This means, when alcohol is combined with a narcotic such as Percocet, the effects are more intensified for a woman. This can make women more susceptible to rape or sexual assault.
How many parents would keep a loaded weapon in the bathroom cabinet? That is something worth considering when you get home tonight.
Parents are not the only ones who need to worry. Airmen in the dormitories should also be aware. Ensure you keep your prescription narcotics secured, you do not know who might be addicted and looking for a new supply of medication. Also, be careful when taking prescribed medication and ensure you do not put yourself at risk for becoming the victim of a crime.
Contact your local AFOSI or law enforcement desk to report information about criminal activity or if you have been the victim of a sexual assault.
